If You See a Hole at the Top of a Lollipop Stick, this is What it Means

Read: Why Americans Refrigerate Their Milk Even Though Much of the World Doesn’t

Creating Lollipops with Hollow Sticks
Variations of lollipops have been around for centuries. Some were made with fruits and nuts, others pure sugar, and eventually, most also had added and artificial flavors. Sometimes, lollipops even added dyes to make the candy more aesthetically pleasing for children. Over the last few decades, one thing has changed about the packaging for lollipops. Some lollipops, like Tootsie Pop and Dum Dums, had solid paper sticks. While better for the environment than their plastic counterparts, the paper sticks, to some extent, actually inhibited consumers’ ability to enjoy the product.

In contrast, manufacturers of Chupa Chups have been making lollipops since 1958. Originally producing only seven flavors, today, the international company now sells more than 100 flavors to more than 150 countries worldwide. They knew something that other candy makers were yet to find out. Their lollipops have been made using hollow sticks with holes at the top, serving two purposes.

Reason 1: Functionality
The first reason lollipops are now made with hollow sticks is that the little square at the top allows candy makers to “anchor” the candy down.

Reason 2: Safety
Because lollipops are made with those convenient sticks, they paint a picture that they’re intended for consumption on the go. While they do make things easier, they’re also considered a choking hazard. Children may accidentally swallow them while running, although it’s never advised to let a child do anything but sit while consuming food, drinks, snacks, or candy. However, just because it’s not advisable doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. As a result, numerous children suffered from death or injury as a result of either careless eating or over-excitement.

On the other hand, the hollow sticks prevent airflow from being obstructed in case of accidental swallowing. For example, in 2020, a 4-year-old boy from Texas was taken to the hospital after accidentally swallowing a lollipop stick. Although the plastic hollow stick had to be removed through surgery, his airways remained open enough that he didn’t choke to death before getting help.

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